The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2025 NBA Cup as the favourites.
Going into their semi-final clash against the San Antonio Spurs, the defending league champions held a 24-1 record and looked set for another comfortable result.
But with Victor Wembanyama returning to the Spurs line-up, San Antonio pulled off a surprise 111-109 win that caught many fans off guard.
Following the narrow defeat, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spoke candidly about where things fell short for his side.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explains the OKC Thunder’s defeat
Currently, the Thunder are on track to break the Golden State Warriors’ 73-9 regular-season record.
They also came into the NBA Cup game riding a 16-game win streak. But SGA felt his team simply did not do enough of the basics against San Antonio.
“We can’t think we’re above anything. Along with every team in the league, if you show up on a night and don’t do the necessary things to win, you probably won’t win,” said the 27-year-old after the loss.
“No matter how talented, no matter what your record looks like. That was the case for us tonight.”
Against the Spurs, the Thunder struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 24.3% of their attempts from three-point range.
SGA’s solid night highlights a rare off night for OKC
On a night when most of the team struggled from the field, SGA managed to put together a solid showing against San Antonio.
Despite the loss, the reigning MVP still turned in a respectable performance. According to Sofascore, he earned a 7.5 grade for his 29-point display in the semi-final.
But his efforts were somewhat overshadowed by Jalen Brunson’s, who will now lead New York into the NBA Cup final against Wembanyama and San Antonio after a 40-point game against the Magic.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
